Roadkill

Theatre Production

Director

written by Stef Smith

Mercy Ojelade in Roadkill. Photo by Andrew Wilson

★★★★★

“There is no counting the ways in which Cora Bissett’s production shatters, disturbs and challenges us”

- The Scotsman

In a Benin city, a young girl struggles to support her family. A world away, in an Edinburgh tenement, Aunty Martha arranges a job and flight for her. Journey with her on the bus that leads to a new life and discover the nightmare reality behind Martha’s promises.

“When a young woman quite literally lands on your doorstep, and wakens you with her screams in the night, trafficking ceases to be an ‘issue’ and becomes about an individual.”
-​ Cora Bissett

Olivier Award for Best Production in an Affiliate Theatre, 2012

Amnesty Award for Freedom of Expression

Edinburgh International Festival Award

Fringe First

Herald Angel

Total Theatre Award for Innovation

Holden St Theatre Award

Stage Award for Best Actress – Mercy Ojelade

CATS Award for Best Production

CATS Award for Best Actress – Mercy Ojelade

Cora Bissett’s and Stef Smith’s critically acclaimed and urgent production exposing the hidden world of sex trafficking is based on the experiences of a young woman trafficked to Scotland. It was the first production in Edinburgh Festival Fringe history to win every major theatre award .

★★★★★

“brutal and compelling”

- The Evening Standard

★★★★★

“brilliant, sobering, frank, very moving.'

- What's On Stage

★★★★★

“This is immersive theatre at its most powerful”

- Financial Times

★★★★★

“startling and at times harrowing'

- The Herald

“This is by design a consciousness-raising show, meant to bring a sobering immediacy to a topic that has become a regular subject of television crime shows”

New York Times

★★★★★

“There is no counting the ways in which Cora Bissett’s production shatters, disturbs and challenges us.”

- The Scotsman

★★★★

“an almightily powerful production”

- The Guardian

★★★★

“there’s no faulting the passion of the piece”

The Independent

★★★★

“I cannot urge you strongly enough to go and see it”

The Stage

★★★★

“Relentlessly bleak, necessary drama”

The List

★★★★

Roadkill is brutal because the exploitation of human beings is brutal.
You won’t leave unscathed”

- New York Post

Trailer

In the media

Roadkill wins affiliate Olivier

The Guardian
Roadkill heads to New York

The New York Times
Taking Audiences on an Unsettling Ride

Cast

Original Cast   

John Kazek   

Mercy Ojelade   

Adura Onashile   

2013 Tour   

Nicky Elliot   

Lashana Lynch   

Faith Omole      

Creative Team

Directed by   Cora Bissett   

Text by   Stef Smith   

Assistant Director and Sound Artist   Harry Wilson   

Designed by   Jess Brettle   

Digital Media Artist   Kim Beveridge   

Animation Artist   Marta Mackova   

Lighting Design   Paul Sorley   

Movement Direction   Natasha Gilmore   

Produced by Pachamama Productions and Ankur Productions. International tours in association with Richard Jordan Productions.

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